Cook jobs in Birmingham, west midlands

Salary: £28,860 per year FTE (£23,088 pro-rata)​

Hours: Part time, 30 hours per week (0.8 FTE)​

Location:Home based + Delivery based in allocated schools in London​

Contract: Permanent​

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for food and community to be a part of FoodCycle’s after-school community meal projects.As Schools Coordinator, you will coordinate and deliver weekly family meals at your allocated schools in London (2-3 evenings per week) as well as coordinate all aspects of the projects, from volunteer management to food surplus supply.​

Our after-school community meals will be spaces where families of school children can gather at the end of the school day to enjoy a free nutritious meal and be among the school community. With the support of our National Schools & Franchise Manager you will manage local relationships with schools, community partners, supermarkets and volunteer recruitment channels to enable our meals to happen each week.​

You will have experience of working with primary school-aged children or families, in school or other setting. You will also have experience in hospitality or food businesses. You will use your excellent communication skills to manage volunteers and ensure the safe and effective running of our meals and positive relationships with school families.​

There will be frequent travel within London, with evening work required. Our school community meals are accessible by public transport.​

Benefits: We offer 26.5 days holiday plus bank holidays, and additional holiday for length of service (pro-rata for part-time). Plus, everyone gets an extra day off on their birthday! Our health and wellbeing cash plan allows staff to claim money back on healthcare bills and includes access to telephone counselling and online GP appointments.​

How to apply:Please upload a CV of no more than two sides, and a covering note/letter of no more than two sides explaining why you are suitable for the role, via our vacancy website.​​

Deadline for your application: 11.59pm on Tuesday 24th February 2026​

Interviews: planned for Thursday 5th March 2026​

Inclusivity: At FoodCycle, we are committed to being an equitable, diverse and inclusive organisation. Our vision is to create a working and service environment where every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. We want everyone to bring their full selves to work and to our community meals. We commit to removing barriers that prevent our employees, volunteers and guests from embracing their distinctive and diverse identities.​

We want our organisation to reflect the communities we serve.We welcome applications from everyone and especially encourage people from unrepresented groups to apply.​

Disability Confident Employer: FoodCycle is a Disability Confident Employer and candidates who are disabled and who meet our minimum criteria for the job will be offered an interview.Please state in your application if you identify as disabled and wish to be considered for a guaranteed interview. We can make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. ​

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – FoodCycle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare / wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk. This role will therefore require a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check.

Please note that you will need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this role. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they are likely to die from.

The care and support we provide is highly valued by the people we care for and their loved ones, but at present we are only reaching around 10% of dying people at the end of life. Right now, one in four people in the UK with a terminal illness, do not get the care or support they deserve at the end of their lives. 

We provide free specialist care and support to patients with terminal illnesses whilst offering vital emotional support for their families. It's all about giving them the best possible quality of life. The support we offer is tailored to meet individuals' medical, social, spiritual and emotional needs.

We want a different society than the one we live in now. Our mission for the next five years is to close the gap in the number of people missing out on what they need at the end-of-life, through three ways:

• Growing and transforming our direct care and support 
• Delivering more practical information and support 
• Leading in shaping the end-of-life experience  

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Chef to join our Facilities team at the Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice. In this important role, you will create high-quality, nutritious meals for patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors, while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.

You will bring strong culinary expertise, the ability to design and deliver varied menus, and a commitment to excellent customer service. We’re looking for someone who works well within a team, shows initiative, adapts easily to changing demands, and demonstrates a genuinely caring approach.

You will also assist the Head Chef in supervision of Catering Assistants, assist with staff rotas, help recruit junior team members, and manage supplier selection and ordering processes.

If you are passionate about delivering great food and making a meaningful difference to the lives of others, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Contract:  Full Time; 37.5 hours per week

Working Days: Five days per week, Monday through Sunday, including Bank Holidays

Salary: Agenda for Change Pay Scale Band 3, £24,937–£26,598 per annum, with additional pay for weekend shifts.

Based: Marie Curie West Midlands Hospice, Solihull

Essential Criteria:

• City & Guilds 706/1, 706/2, or Level 2 NVQ in Food Production and Cooking (or equivalent qualification) ?
• Basic food hygiene certificate ?
• Relevant catering experience?
• Experience supervising staff
• High levels of Health and Safety awareness?

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience working within a healthcare environment
• NVQ Level 3 qualification
• Intermediate food handling certificate

What's in it for you:   

• Annual leave allowance 27 days plus 8 public holidays (pro-rated) 
• Competitive Policy for parental/sick Leave   
• Continuous Professional development   
• Industry leading training programmes   
• Generous Enhancements

Marie Curie Benefits Package:  

• Defined contribution schemes for Pension (the charity will match your contribution up to 7.5%)  
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme  
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and satellite navigation systems    
• Help with eyecare cost (T & C’s apply)   
• Entitled to Marie Curie Blue Light Card   
• Entitled to Benefit Hub Discount Scheme  
• Life assurance

To view the job description, 

Advert Closes: 5-March-2026

Application Process 

To apply, please submit an online application and include a copy of your most recent CV detailing your experience, how you meet the person specification and why you would like to work for Marie Curie. 

For more information or an informal chat please contact

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. 

Agencies need not apply. 

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding.  We provide care for all, and that commitment extends beyond the people we serve. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings.  We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at .

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.